You are currently viewing #TankaTuesday Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 323, 6/6/2023
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#TankaTuesday Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 323, 6/6/2023


🌈 Color poetry 🌈

Colleen’s Instructions:

  1. From the chart: choose a color and use the color in your syllabic poem.
  2. Also: Choose ONE word from the descriptions under the color you chose, and
    add it to your syllabic poem.
  3. Remember, if you write a freestyle poem, please include a syllabic form along
    with it.
The color (chart) of Magic
The Color Chart of Magic: Tanka Tuesday Prompt

Here’s an Emily D poem first.

Dare you see a Soul at the White Heat?
Then crouch within the door–
Red–is the fire’s common tint–
But when the vivid Ore
Has vanquished Flame’s conditions,
It quivers from the Forge
Without a color, but the light
Of unanointed Blaze.
Least Village has its Blacksmith
Whose Anvil’s even ring
Stands symbol for the finer Forge
That soundless tugs –within–
Refining these impatient Ores
With Hammer, and with Blaze
Until the Designated Light
Repudiate the Forge–


© Emily Dickingson
Dare you see a Soul at the White Heat? (365)
The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson

For today I’ve chosen to write a gogyohka.

Gogyohka usually contains five lines, but could have four or six lines. It’s up to
the poet. Each line should comprise one phrase with a line-break after each phrase
or breath. Gogyohka has no restraints on the number of words or syllables used.
However, this form should be written as other Japanese short verse poetry. The
theme for gogyohka is unrestricted. No title and no rhyming.

a white handkerchief
a white pillowcase
a white bridal veil
white light for the mirror
to spot truth in your face

© selma

((poetic licence to interchange truth with all the descriptors under
the color white in the lovely chart))

And add a little sojourn into physics, where I went with a question to research for this
poem >> Play with Color and Light: American Museum of Natural History <<

Selma’s interesting discovery:

The great English scientist Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) used a prism to separate
the colors that make up white light, making each color visible. And combining
these same colors makes white light.

The lesson: When you start with a question, you might end with a gogyohka.

Hope you enjoyed it. And friends, click on The Mr. Linky in Colleen’s original post
to read all the fantastic responses to this prompt. And if you’re so inspired, feel free
to add your poem to the Linky.

Thanks for reading, dear friends.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 57 Comments

  1. Kajal

    Beautiful poem. Thank you for introducing me to this form of poetry. And loved the beautiful lesson here;)

    1. Selma Martin

      Kajal, you’re very welcome. I’m still learning the various forms myself. And this is all practice. hehe. Word
      Craft Poetry Website is loaded with poets–you might want to come join the fun. Every one is welcome in this
      friendly community. Come practice with us. Bless you. Glade you loved this one. xoxo

  2. elvira797mx

    So beautiful poems, thank’s for share Selma.
    Wonderful day!

    1. Selma Martin

      Elvira. Gracias, corazon de melon (honey bun) I appreciate you reading and commenting. Have a wonderful new week.

      1. elvira797mx

        Always a pleasure visit your blog.
        Thank’s dear Selma you are so kind
        have a lovely new week as well.

  3. Sadje

    Love this form and your poem Selma. Well done 👍🏼

    1. Selma Martin

      Sadje, the Gogyohka with its limited restrictions is a lovely form. I really enjoy writing them. I’m so happy you like it as well. Be well dear one. Have a happy new week. xoxo

      1. Sadje

        Thanks Selma. I plan to try this form.

  4. rajkkhoja

    So wonderful poem written of colours words use.

    1. Selma Martin

      Raj, you are sweet. Thanks so much for the support you give me and I am so happy you enjoyed this one. Bless you.

    1. Selma Martin

      My friend, it is a good day when you visit me here. I bless you. xoxo

      1. Goff James

        Pleasure Selma. Have a wonderful Day My Friend.

    1. Selma Martin

      Prisms. Interesting. Jennifer, I am happy you enjoyed the poem and the fun facts. I bless you. Stay sweet and have a lovely new week. xoxo

  5. Destiny

    simply wonderful, Selma. 🤍✨

    1. Selma Martin

      Simply kind of you for lending me support and encouragement, dear Destiny. I appreciate you. Have a glorious new week my friend. xoxo

      1. Destiny

        always a pleasure and a grand week your way too🤍✨

    1. Selma Martin

      Melissa, you are a gem. Thanks. Have a fantastic new week. I bless you.

    1. Selma Martin

      Yve, thanks for being the lovely encourager and friend that you are. I am in awe of you. Blessings.

  6. Tanmay Philip

    We had to do that experiment in physics lab class. I remember those tiny prisms. Beautiful poem, Selma, and the discovery of this new intriguing poetry form has got my fingers itching to try.

    1. Selma Martin

      So happy to know all this. Sending blessings your way. Xo

  7. Colleen M. Chesebro

    I like this gogyohka very much, Selma! The way you wove the last line in there is perfect. The light of truth says so much! 🤍

  8. memadtwo

    The repetition works well with the image of the mirror. (K)

  9. Smitha V

    Lovely poem, Selma. I liked all the research you shared, too and ofcourse Emily Dickinson’s poem. This was an interesting read.

    1. Selma Martin

      Smitha. I’m delighted you caught this one. Yes. Emily. 👏🏽
      Thanks for reading. Love

  10. msjadeli

    Selma, white is a color rich with symbolic meaning. The objects in your poem are great examples.

    1. Selma Martin

      Lisa, thanks for reading into the symbolism. Thanks dearly. Xoxo

    1. Selma Martin

      I’m delighted you thought so, dear Brenda. Thanks dearly. Xoxo

  11. Conny

    I love how the first three lines seem to represent three key moments that lead to the last line. Well done, Selma!

    1. Selma Martin

      I like the way you read this Conny. Thank you. Xoxo

  12. judeitakali

    This is amazing, Selma. I love love it.✨🖤

    1. Selma Martin

      You used the A word on me–amazing. You are amazing. Thanks so much for making me feel special here. I appreciate you. Have a meritorious new week. Blessings.

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww, Roberta, you are sweet for saying. Thanks. And who doesn’t enjoy Emily, right? White Heat!? Leave it to Emily to make us take a second look… wow, right. xoxo Have a fantastic week.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for liking my Gogyohka, dear Punam. I bless you as you start your new week. xoxo

      1. paeansunplugged

        You are welcome and thank you, Selma. May you have a wonderful week too.

  13. Karima Hoisan

    I enjoyed the whole post and admire your choice of white. The picture is just perfect too

    1. Selma Martin

      Karima, yes, White. It is a lovely color too, but we sometimes forgo it for tainted hues. I love all the colors. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Oh, the picture–I like it too. Blessings. Have a glorious new week, dear one. xoxo

  14. ben Alexander

    here’s some truth for you, Selma ~ this and so many of your poems are very lovely and touching <3

    ~David

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